Date: Fri, 8 Dec 1995 09:41:09 +0100 From: glaad@glaad.org (GLAAD) GLAADLINES Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation contact: Claudia Manley (212) 807-1700 manley@glaad.org News, Tips, and Information about the Gay & Lesbian Community December 8, 1995 -- GAYS AND LESBIANS SHINE ON TV: Gay and lesbian characters are populating a number of major television programs. "NYPD Blue" and "Friends" have continued to push the envelope with their commitment to realistic gay characters and themes. "NYPD Blue is a perfect example of how the inclusion of gay and lesbian characters on television should represent us in all professions, " stated Tamra King, GLAAD's Entertainment Media Director. "Grace Under Fire" recently aired a show in which Grace's former father-in-law comes out, and "Mad About You" will tape an episode next week (tentatively scheduled to air on January 7th) featuring the coming out of Paul Buchman's sister. Additionally, TV watchers should be glued to their sets for the December 12th episode of "Roseanne" featuring a gay marriage. For more information contact GLAAD's Tamra King at (213) 658-6775. ILGO DECLARES READINESS TO SUE NYPD: The Irish Lesbian and Gay Organization (ILGO) continues to protest its exclusion from New York's Saint Patrick's Day Parade. ILGO is set to file suit against the New York Police Department on December 15th if there is no response to their October 10th application to legally protest their exclusion. If the suit fails they plan to stage a civil disobedience action on March 16th which will include forty affinity groups of lesbians and gay men. For more information contact ILGO's Sal Cerere or Lisa Fane at pager (917) 429-5003. ANTI-GAY LAW CHALLENGED IN MONTANA: On December 8th, Montana District Court Judge Jeffrey Sherlock will hear arguments in Gryezan v. State of Montana. This case challenges Montana's Deviate Sexual Conduct Law, which makes it a felony to engage in any form of private sexual conduct between consenting gay or lesbian adults. The State tried to have the case dismissed, arguing that the law posed no threat because it was never enforced. But on June 29, 1994, Judge Sherlock was ruled that the law created a sufficient threat of harm to allow plaintiffs their day in court. For more information contact Sandy Hale, PRIDE Executive Director, at (406) 442-9322. HAWAII COMMISSION SUPPORTS GAY MARRIAGES: The Commission on Sexual-Orientation and the Law is releasing its findings report to the Supreme Court of Hawaii. The Commission recommends extending the major legal and economic benefits afforded to married opposite-sex couples to same-sex couples, and states that "the simplest solution would be to amend the marriage statute to allow same-sex marriage and extend all the benefits and burdens of such status to those couples if they wished to assume them." For more information contact GLAAD's Chiqui Cartagena at (212) 807-1700. TALKSHOW BACKLASH?: Next week's Electronic Media magazine features an article exploring the backlash against the gay and lesbian community from talkshows. As a result of former Secretary of Education William Bennett's attempts to curtail the sensationalistic nature of talkshows, many topics which address gay and lesbian issues have been dropped. "What we want is good coverage from talkshows, not exploition," stated Chiqui Cartagena, GLAAD's Interim News Director. For more information contact Chiqui Cartagena at (212) 807-1700. The Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation is a national organization that promotes fair, accurate, and inclusive representation of individuals and events in all media as a means of combating homophobia and all forms of discrimination based on sexual orientation or identity. To subscribe contact Claudia Manley at (212) 807-1700 or at glaad@glaad.org. ****************************************************************************** Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation (GLAAD) glaad@glaad.org http://www.glaad.org The Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation, GLAAD, is a national organization that promotes fair, accurate and inclusive representation of individuals and events in the media as a means of combatting homophobia and all forms of discrimination based on sexual orientation or identity. **************************************************************************** **